Alcove sleeping-car.



' F. E. STEBBINS.

ALOOVB SLEEPING OAR. APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 27, 1910.

1,1 1 9,466. Patented Deo. 1, 1914.

'l BHEETB-EEBBT 1.

\ F. E. STEBBINS.

ALOOVE SLEEPING OAR.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED JULY a1, 1910.

1,1 1 9,466, Patented Deo. 1,1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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F. E. STEBBINS. ALOOVB SLEEPING OAR. APPLIoATIoN FILED IULM?, 1910.

1,119,466, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. E. STEBBINS.

ALOOVE SLEEPING OAR.

APPLICATION num JULY a7, mo.

Patented Deoul, 1914.

'l SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, i Wfaesses Anl/M@ Wm@ F. E. STBBBINS.

ALOOVE SLEEPING UAR.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULYzv, 1910.

1,1 1 9,466. Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

7 BHEBTS-BEBET 5.

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l .'"55 6/ eo 7 lli /J APPLIOATION FILED JULY 27, 1010.

F. E. STBBINS. ALoovE SLEEPING OAR.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

/wfl n/WJ F. E. STEBBINS.

ALOOVE SLEEPING UAR. APPLICATION FILED JULY a7, 1910.

1,1 1 9,466. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

'I MEETS-*SHEET 7.

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FRANK E. STEBBINS, V0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

AICOVE SLEEPING-CAR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application inea :my 27, 1910. serial No. 574,109.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK' E. STEBBINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Alcove Sleeping-Cars; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention generically relates to convertible sleeping and day cars ofthe alcove type, and specifically to certain improvements upon theconstructions and arrangements disclosed in Letters Patent Nos. 897,314;897,315; 897,797; and 897 ,798 of September 1, 1908.

Theiinportant objects or ends attained by the present improvements, ashereinafter set forth, are, to wit: the location of the upper berthsnearer the floor of the car when in positions for use so they will bemore easily accessible; the corresponding lowering of the lower berthsso as to provide ample space between a lower and an upper berth; animproved construction of the upper berth whereby it can be manipulatedwith greater facility and caused to occupy a position when not in useadjacent the wall and roof of the car and not excessively projectinwardly therefrom and. overhang the seats as do the upper berths nowcommonly used in sleeping cars; improved means in part movable forshutting 0H the alcove spaces from the sections; and the production ofacar having a wide unobstructed space in the top portion thereof, andwhich can quickly and easily be converted so as alternately to ada t itfor day and night use.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction andcombination and arrangements of parts whereby the ends recited areattained.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several examples of the embodimentof the invention constructed according to the best modes of procedure Ihave so 'far devised for the purpose.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in plan a car embodying the invention. Fig. 3is a cross section taken on line of Fig. 1 showing two upper berths inend elevations, one at the left raised and the other at the rightlowered to a horizontal position, and the corresponding relativepositions of two seats one arranged for day use and the other loweredfor use by ni ht as part of a lower berth foundation. 'ig. 4 is a crosssection of Fig. 1 taken on line y-g/ through two opposite alcove spaces.Fig. 5 is a view in .elevation taken on line z--z of Fig. 1 showing onesection and an alcove arranged for night use with the berth curtainremoved, and one section as it appears when arranged for use by day.Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a so-called section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 showing one seat cushion and back upholstering arranged forday use and the other cushion and back upholstering lowered to form partof a lower berth foundation. Fig. 7 is a cross section of a car showinganother embodiment of the inven- `tion,.the dispositions of the upperberths relative to the car walls and roof when in 'r g. 8 is a,

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the numeral 1 designates the car floor; 2, 2,the vertical side walls with windows suitably spaced; 3, the raised deckof a well known construction; 4, 4, the two arts of the roof between theraised deck and) the side Walls; 5, 5, the

'longitudinal deck sills; and 6, the fixed arch rails extending acrossfrom one deck sill to the other.

The main portion of the interior space of the car is divided by seatbacks or partitions 7, located at right angles to the side walls, andbyl fixed partitions 8 abutting the Walls and in line with the seatbacks or partitions 7, into a central passageway 9, sections 10, andalcove spaces 11 adjacent the sections. Each section .is provided withtwo seats facing each other the upholstering of which can be adjusted toform a lower berth foundation for night use, and also with a hinged orpivoted upper berth of novel construction. Referring to the seats, 12desw.

nates adjustable head rests; 13, movab e back upholsterings; 14:,movable Vseat cushions; 15, movable supports having notches or seats 16,17 to receive and hold in proper relative positions the backupholstering and 'cushion of each seat, two supports 15 bein providedfor each seat one at the seat en an'd one at the car wall; 18,horizontal rails at the car wall and on the seat end which hold thesupports 15 in place and also serve to support the back upholsteringsand cushions in horizontal positions when lowered; 19, fixed rails orsupports on the floor below the front edges of the cushions; 20, seatsor recesses in the rails; 22, legs secured to the front under surfacesof the cushion frames; and 23 the fixed seat ends each provided with anarm rest.

In Fig. 6 at the right the back upholstering and cushion are shownarranged mr day use. and at the left they are shown in horizontalpositions forming part 'of the lower berth foundation. The height of thefront top surface of the edge of the rearwardly inclined cushion fromthe door is about 18,- and it is desirable to have the distance from thefloor to .theto surfaces of the back upholstering and cus ion whenarranged to form a lower berth foundation about 14. Obviously, the partsare so constructed ,and arranged that this, end can be attained. 'lhefront edge of each cushion is raised withdrawing the legs from theirseats, then the entire .cushion is pulled for' ward and dropped so therear edge of the cushion frame rests upon the rails 18 and the legssupport the front edge of the cushion from the door. Each backupholstering is then turned forward, the supports 15 removed and theback upholstering .placedA upon the rails 18 at the rear of the cushion.The top surface of the lower berth foundation is thus in a plane some 4lower than the-top front surfaces of, the cushionswhen in ositons to beused aslseats..

he hinged or pivoted, upper berth in each section is above and iin linewith the seats, and provision is ma e for dropping the berth to a:horizontal `,position for. use

sothat its under surface w1ll lie in a plane,

about or less from the car floor, whereby access to 'the sainev will befacilitated and?? 'its use rendered less objectionable.` 'lhe upperberth is divided longitudinally into two parts so-called inner andouter, which parts are hinged together so the inner may occupy asubstantially vertical position adjacent to the car wallwhen closed up,

v and the outer part, turned away from the lower part, occupy a'position at an angle to dit . the lower deck sill. l

The number 24: designates the inner part of the upper berth; 25, thecurved or rounded surfacel adjacent the car wall and window; 26, pivotalmeans or supports at each end of the innerpart, one member of yeachhinged or pivotal means being secured to or in the car wall and 4theother member` to an end of thefsaid inner part, the arrangement ,of thepivotal elements being such that the body et the berth when turneddownto position. A flexibleguard 34 is art part and adjacent the roofor' arrasa@ la horizontal position will preferably lie in a plane belowthe pivotal points and at the requisite distance fromthe car door; 27,

edge of the inner part of the berth and the opposite end secured to aspring drum 30 located on the wall within an alcove space, the saidchains or cords passing through and having bearings 31 in the artitionsadjacent the plates and roof, as s own in Figs. 3 and l; and 32, 33,respectively, are coperating bolts and sockets of any suitable or wellknown t pe located in or on the partitions and endY per berth forlocking the berth in a raised rovided for theupper berth, its lower edgeeing se-` cured to the outer edge of the outer part or hinged leaf andits upper edge provided s of the outer part of the upwith a cord 35 theends of which terminate v in rings or hooks which engage hooks 36 uponthe arch rails, which'hooks are located in line with curtain rod' 37secured to the arch rails above the alcove spaces. lt will be observedthat the outer part or leaf 27 of the upper berth is so hinged to theouter edge of the inner part 24: that a knuckle joint is'formed, thatis, the leaf 27 cannot turn whenin the same plane as the outer part overupon the inner part, but onlyaway from it and beyond its outer edge, the

side pieces at the ends of the inner and lOC each end of the leaf, thelower end of the cord being secured to the leaf and the free endprovided with a ring or similar device which engages a hook 36, as shownby Figs. 3 and 5. ln vthe samefigures it will be observedv that when the'.upper b erth is folded upthe Hap or leaf 27 occupies a .position backof the deck sill and at an angle to the substantially vertical inner orlower part of the "berth, which dispositions of the parts provide a verywide open space in the top of the car adjacent to and below the decksills.

'lhe so-called inner. art of the upper berth 4consists of a pane of woodor metal of the length of the berth, but of less width than the entireberth when arranged for use, with end pieces \integral therewith orsecured thereto, the inner curved edge being extended to form a sidepiece, said edge belng located adjacent to the car wall when the said"inner part is in a vertical osition. These-called outer part or hingedvleaf con- 'sists of a' panel of .wood ormetal with end nuance 1,

pieces and a side piece, the end' and side pieces bein substantially atright angles to the pane The spring or other mattress (not shown) forthe upper berth may be of any suitable construction, but preferably itis in two arts united and each respectively correspon ing in shape tothe outlines of the inner and outer parts of the berth or frame. Theparts of the mattress may be detachably secured in osition and thenarrower part turned wit the leaf to a position outside the panel of theinner part when the berth is swung up or raised.

The fixed partitions 8 in this example extend from the car wallsoutwardly as far as the deck sills, or a slight distance beyond them,and at night relatively narrow movable partitions 39 are place upon thetop outer edges of the seat backs to entirely shuty oif sections attheir ends from alcove spaces.

Each alcove space is provided with a wall ocket 49 and storage cabinet50 secured to `the wall by hinges 51.l The cabinet occupies a verticalposition with its outer surface in line with the outer surfaces of theupper berths when closed, and when opened it is supported by cords 52.The cabinet covers the spring drums when closed.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the constructions and arrangements of the seats aresubstantially the same as whereby they are convertible to form lowerberth foundations in planes below the top surfaces of the cushions whenarranged for day use. The upper berths and partitions, however, involvevariations in construction andarrangement. Each upper berth is providedat the ends of the edge adjacent the car Wall with metallic arms 53extended the proper distance into the wall where they are pivoted byjournals 54 (the same being accessible from the alcove spaces), theobject being to allow the upper berth to turn or swing down to ahorizontal position nearer the floor than would be the case with thepivotal points nearer `the edge of the inner part of the upper berth.

In Fig. 7, t e hingedy leaf or outer part 27 of the berth when raised isdisposed in a horizontal position back of the deck sill or apron, theouter surface of the leaf being at ri-ght angles to the outer verticalsurface of the inner part of the berth, as shown. In

Fig. 8 the leaf 27 has a curved or roundedl outer surface 55. and thelocking devices l hold it adjacent the roof and below the deck sill. InFig. 9 the hinged leaf or outer part 27 when the berth is raisedoccupies a recess 56 back of the apron or false deck sill 57, as clearlyshown in the figure.

In each example the area of the exterior panel of the inner part of theberth when in a vertical position is approximately the same as the'areaof the window space, and also the same as the area of the car wallbetween those hereinbefore describedl does no t objectionably obstructthe view' `lengthwlse of thc interior of the car.

In Figs. 7 and 9 the partitions between the posts and the car wall arecut away for some distance above the seat backs to provide open spaces59, which open spaces allow a` wider view of the interior of the carthan would be possible when partitions such as shown in Fig. 3 arepresent.

In Fig. 8 the open space 59 extends from the seat back to the leaf 27 ofthe upper berth when raised. To shut off or completely separate thealcove spaces from the sections by night movable partitions are providedeach consisting of an inner leaf 60 and an outer leaf 61 united byhinges 62 which overlap the posts when adjusted upon the seat backs. thehinges aiding by their engagement with the posts to hold the partitionin place.

The means for holding the upper berth shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9 inraised and horizontal positions are substantially the same as thosepreviously described. When the arch rails are located at the undersurface of the deck roof, as in Fig. S, the supports for the outer part27 of an upper berth when lowered may consist of two rods 63 hinged attheir lower ends to the outer part at its ends and provided with ringsor similar devices at their free ends adapted to engage hooks or similarsupports secured to the arch rails. The rods are turned down within thesaid outer part 27 of the berth when it is to be raised to the car walland roof.

From the foregoing description taken 1n connection with the drawings itbecomes obvious that the ends recited are effectively attained.

Owing to the fixed gage of the track, and the size of tunnels, bridgesand cuts. limitations in the cross sectional area of passenger cars arecorrespondinglv imposed. 'lhe problem is to make the available spacewithin the car most comfortable for passengers. The improvements hereinset forth are conducive to this end. `The upper berth 1s l0- catednearer the floor than in common practice wherebv access to it is notdifficult, and the lower berth is also lowered to secure ample head roomand air space between the two berths. The construction and locations ofthe unp'er berths when raised, as hereln described, secure a wide openspace in the t'op of the car not possible when the up er berths areclosed to lie in oblique planes etween the car walls and the deck sills.ln practice the improvements may be embodied in connection with carsconstructed of wood or metal or of both in combination, and the seat`frames, partitions, and upper berth frames may be of metal or othersuitable material.

As is evident from an inspection of the drawings, the interior of thecar with the improvements admits of effective artistic treatment, and tothis end changes in details of construction, in the shapes andproportions o parts, and by additions may be made without constitutingsubstantial departures.

What I claim is:

l. The Icombination in an alcove sleeping car having a floorand walls,of fixed vertical seat backs located at right angles to the Walls anddividing the floor area into a central passageway, sections and alcovespaces ,adjacent the walls, seat cushions and back upholsterings in thesections adapted to form lower berths, upper berths hinged at the wallsabove and in line with the lower berths, fixed partitions in line withthe seat backs and extending inwardly from the walls substantially tothe centers of the berths when lowered and closing the ends of the upperberths when raised, and means for entirely closing the vends of theupper berths from the-alcove'spaces when lowered to horizontal positionsconsisting of movable partitions in connection with the tops of the seatbacks and the fixed partitions.

2. The combination in an alcove sleeping car having a floor and wal-ls,of fixed vertical seat backs` 'located at right angles to the walls anddividing the floor area into a central passageway, adjacent the walls,seat cushions and back upholsterings in the sections adapted to formlower berths, upper berths hinged at the Walls above the lower berths,lixed partitions in line with the seat backs and extending inwardly fromthe walls and closing the ends of the upper berths when raised, fixedposts in connection with the seat backs and substantially at the centersof the upper berths when lowered, the relation otthe posts to the fixedpartitions being such that an open space is provided between a post .anda partition, and movable partitions in connection with the seat backsand posts for closing the openings between the fixed partitions and theposts and also shutting off the ends of the upper `berths when loweredfrom the alcovespaces.

3. T he combination in an alcove sleeping car having a floor and walls,of fixed vertical seat backs located at right angles to the Ywalls anddividing the floor area into a central pamageway, sections and alcovespaces sections and alcove spaces when arranco and a partition, andmovable partitions each conslstlng of two leaves hinged together 1nvconnection with the seat backs and posts for closing the openingsbetween the fixed partitions and the posts and also shutting od the endsof the upper berths when lowered from the alcove spaces.

4. The combination with a sleeping car section, of an ,upper pivotedberth comprised of inner and outer panels hinged t0- gether, the innerpanel when the berth is raised occupying a position substantiallyparallel with the car wall, said berth being so pivoted that when turnedto a horizontal position it will lie in a plane below the pivotalpoints, and seat cushions and back upholsterings adapted to be bodilylowered from the positions they occupy by day and supported to form alower berth below the plane of the seat cushions when arranged for useas seats.

5. The combination with a sleeping car section, of an upper berth withaleaf' hinged to its outer edge, said berth and leaf being adapted tooccupy substantially vertical and angular positions when turned up, saidberth being pivotedl at the car wall so it may swing to" a horizontalposition below the pivotal points, and seat cushions and backupholsterings adapted tov-be bodily lowered below the plane pfthe'cushions when arranged for day use and vform a lower berth.

6. The combination with a car, of an upper berth comprised of inner andouter panels' hinged together, the inner panel occupying a positionsubstantially parallel with the wall when raisedand the outer panelturned outwardly being located adjacent the roof, said inner panel beingprovided with pivotal means so disposed that the berth is turned to ahorizontal position it will lie in a plane below the position occupiedby its inner edge when raised; movable seat cushionsA and backupholsterings below said upper berth which can bodily be lowered Abelowthe plane of the cushions as arranged for day use; and means forsupporting the cushions and back upholsterings i'ntheir loweredpositions, whereby the upperberth may easily be accessible `and-sutlicient headroom and air space be groisded' between the upper andlower crt l 7. The combination with a sleeping car section having seatbacks and seat ends, of cleats on the seat ends and upon the wall,cushions with supports secured at their front under surfaces, supportsupon the floor, removable back upholsterings, and means for retainingthe cushions and back upholsterings in their proper relative positionsby day; the cleats being located some distance below the cushions andadapted to support the cushions and back upholsterings in a bodilylowered position by night to form a lower berth foundation. l

8. The combination with a sleeping car section having seat backs andseat ends, of two back upholsterings, two seat cushions with legs,suports with means to retain the legs, cleats on the seat ends and wallor like supports, and movable supports with notches or seats, wherebythe cushions and back upholsterings may be properly `supported for dayuse and bodily lowered to form a lower berth.

9. The combination with a car having a wall and roof, of an upper berthformed of longitudinal sections or parts hinged toget 1er, and means forpivotally supporting said berth adjacent the car wall, the arrangementbeing such that when folded up the inner section will occupy a positionsubstantially parallel with the wall and the outer portion or front edgepart will occupy a position adjacent the roof of the car and projectoutside the \inner section.

10. The combination with a car having a wall and roof, of an upper berthformed of longitudinal sections or parts hinged together, and means forpivotally supporting said berth adjacent the car wall; the arrangementbeing such that when folded up the inner section will occupy a `positionsubstantially parallel with the car wall, and the outer or front edgelportion will occupy a position adjacent the roof of the car and projectoutside the inner section; means be- .ing provided for locking saidfront edge or part in its raised position.

11. The combination with a car having a wall and roof, of an upper berthmade in two parts, one wider than the other, and each of the length ofthe berth, and hinged together; and means for pivotally supporting theberth adjacent the wall; the arrangement being such that the wider partshall fold to a substantially vertical position and the narrow partoccupy a position at an angle to thc wider part and outside of it andbeneath the roof.

gularly disposed to the inner part and extending outside the same, andboth parts being bounded b the partitions at their ends.

13. The com ination with a car having a wall and roof, of an upper berthcomposed of a lurality of pahels or pieces and hinged toget er, theinner panel being pivoted to the car and the outer piece hinged so itcan turn away from the inner panel; said berth when turned up having theinner panel substantially vertical and the outer piece lying turned outfrom the plane of the inner panel, and means for holding the partsof theberth in their raised angular and lowered horizontal positions.

14. The combination with a car having a wall and roof, of a berthcomprised of a plurality of parts, inner and outer, of substantially thelength of the berth and hinged together, the inner part having armspivoted at the wall by pivots or hinges so located that when lowered thebody of the berth will lie in a horizontal plane below the pivotalpoints, and when swung up the inner part will be in a substantiallyvertical plane and above the pivotal points, and the outer part turnedout at an angle to the inner art will lie below the roof;

15. he combination with a car having arch rails and supporting devicesin connection therewith, of a pivoted upper berth havinv a main innerpart provided with a leaf hlnged to turn only from a position in thesame plane as the main panel of the berth to a position outside the saidmain panel, and supports secured to the leaf of the berth and adapted toengage the said supporting devices in connection with the arch railswhereby the leaf is held in line with the main part of the berth.

16. The combination with a car, of a pivoted upper berth having an innerpart and a hinged leaf, cords or chains secured to the inner part and tothe car for holding the inner part in a horizontal position whenlowered, and means for supporting the hinged leaf in line with the innerpart, said leaf in its raised position being located outside the innerpart.

17. The combination with a car, of a pivoted upper berth co-mprising aninner part and a leaf hinged to said inner part so as to forni a knucklejoint, means for holding the leaf in line with the inner part when theberth is lowered to a horizontal position for use, and cords or chainsconnected to the berth and to spring drums for holding the berth in itslowered horizontal position, the leaf being turned away from and locatedoutside the panel of the innerI part when the berth is raised.

18. The combination with a car, of an upper berth comprising an innerpart with a l 1 tudinal berth hinged tothe inner part so said outer partcan be turned to a position at right angles to the panel ofthe innerpart; said berth when swung up occupying substantially vertical andhorizontal positions adjacent the,`

wall/and the roof of the car,'the said outer part being turned away fromand disposed substantially at right angles to the inner part, and meansfor holding said inner and outer parts in their said relative positionswhen raised.

19. The combination with a car, of an upper berth comprising a panelhinged at its inner edge so as to lie adjacent the car wall, and a frontpart pivoted to the panel portion to increase the width of the berthlandwhich front part can be shifted or turned away from the panel so thelatter can fold to a substantially vertical position below the roof; andmeans for supporting the front part from the roof when the berth is inuse.

20. The combination with a car having a wall, roof and depending decksill or apron5 cf an upper berth longitudinally divided into a pluralityof parts hinged together, the

front edge piece swinging outwardly from the plane of the inner pieceand when the yberth. is folded up occupying a position back of the decksill or apron and. at an angle to and outside the inner piece. f 21. Thecombination with a car having a Wall, roof and deck sill or apron, of anupper berth comprised of a plurality of longiarts united, as bly hinges,and said ivoted at the wa l; the inner part when iolded up beingsubstantially vertical and the outer part lying at an angle to theanimee plane ofthe inner part and with the outer' edge adjacentthe decksill or. apron, whereby a continuous surface is presented between thedeck sill or apron and the top of the inner part of the berth.

22. The combinationwith a car having a A wall and roof, ofan upper berthformed of longitudinal sections or parts hinged together, each of saidsections or parts having end pieces and means for pivotally suplport-4nally divided and hinged together, the outer part or leaf of the berthwhen raised lying outside thel inner part and when the berth is loweredbeing in line with the inner part, and means in connection with' theleaf and arch rails for suppo-rtingthe said leaf in a horizontalposition.

in testimony whereof I ax my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK n. sinnnins.

Witnesses Y WILLIAM Bnown, il?. A. Mmmm.

